MLF: "New Game, New Rules, No Limits"

If you're a fan of tournament bass fishing, there's a new game in town that wants to capture your interest. It's called Major League Fishing (MLF) and it's the brainchild of wealthy businessman and Bassmaster Elite Series pro Boyd Duckett.

The MLF is tagging itself as a "new game" with "new rules and no limits". The full press release is below for you to dissect. If you want the inside scoop, check out the coverage BassFan put up this morning. Industry veteran Jay Kumar of BassParade.com has an interesting perspective on the venture as well.

Digest this stuff, then hit us with your comments below.

Some talking points:

> Does this sound like the kind of thing you want to watch? 

> In the BassFan article, Boyd Duckett mentions there will be no proximity rules. In other words, anglers can literally fish right on top of each other. That's sure to breed conflict and result in heated turf wars. Do you want to watch bass pros argue over who gets to fish a submerged brush pile, or do you think that tarnishes the nature of the sport?

> There will be no live coverage of MLF events. The footge from the events will be canned and televised later. Does that matter to you?

> With no practice time and no GPS waypoints allowed prior to events, do you expect to see different anglers excel in this format, or will KVD still be the king?

TULSA, Okla. – August 4, 2011 – Declaring the creation of a new game, with new rules and no limits, Outdoor Channel, America's Leader in Outdoor TV, and 24 of the world's premiere competitive bass fishing anglers have come together to form MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING. This new sports organization will feature competitive bass fishing events designed to bring high-intensity challenges to the competitors and entertainment, as well as insight, to audiences. 

Under the new format, anglers will compete with no limit on the number of "legal" fish they can weigh and will not be allowed to begin the events with stored, user-generated GPS waypoints. The anglers will have access to a real-time leader board in their boats, showing them where they rank in the standings at any given time. In another twist, anglers will not be allowed any on-site practice time before MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING events.

"Major League Fishing will offer sports fans a unique way to view bass fishing competitions with production features that go beyond just fishing to focus on the personalities, struggles, strategies, conflicts and emotions of the anglers," said Outdoor Channel CEO and President Roger Werner. "Outdoor Channel is proud to be involved in this project from the ground floor and we see an outstanding future in this partnership. This latest venture reflects Outdoor Channel's ongoing commitment to innovative, high-quality content that our core and loyal base of viewers has come to expect from us."

MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING competitors include household names in the pro fishing industry, including seven Bassmaster Classic champions, eight Bassmaster Anglers of the Year and a three-time FLW champion, in addition to a host of other multiple-time winners of major tournaments. Former Bassmaster Angler of the Year Gary Klein and 2007 Bassmaster Classic champion Boyd Duckett were instrumental in putting together the innovative format.

"It is like nothing we've ever done or seen at this level, and I can assure you the anglers are excited about this," Klein said.

"The format is exciting, and the television production will be top-notch," Duckett said. "Our goal was to put together a group of the most influential anglers in the business, and we have done that. They understand we're offering something that will enhance the way the public views our sport."

Skeet Reese, a former Bassmaster Angler of the Year and Bassmaster Classic champion, called MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING "a new frontier."

"What your grandfather did, your father did, and what I did last week in tournament fishing has been around for decades," Reese said. "If you want to see a new, fun and exciting format that will take competitive fishing to a new level, then you've got to check out Major League Fishing."

Jim Wilburn, founder and chairman of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Winnercomm production company, has been named general manager of MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING. Don Rucks, a former B.A.S.S. general manager, will serve as the league commissioner.

"I've been involved for many years with sporting events of all kinds, and I can honestly say that I've never been more excited about a project than I am about Major League Fishing," Wilburn said. "We have a great concept, and we have the enthusiastic participation of the best anglers in the world. I believe this is going to be extraordinary."

A weeklong event – the MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING CHALLENGE CUP - will be held later this year. The event will be broken down into episodes and aired in the second quarter of 2012 on the Outdoor Channel.

MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING Competitors

• Tommy Biffle
• Denny Brauer
• Mark Davis
• Boyd Duckett
• Brent Ehrler
• Edwin Evers
• Shaw Grigsby
• Greg Hackney
• Tim Horton
• Michael Iaconelli
• Alton Jones
• Kelly Jordon
• Gary Klein
• Jeff Kriet
• Aaron Martens
• Mike McClelland
• Ish Monroe
• Takahiro Omori
• Jason Quinn
• Skeet Reese
• Dean Rojas
• Marty Stone
• Kevin VanDam
• Byron Velvick

About MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING

MAJOR LEAGUE FISHING is a partnership of 24 of the world's most talented, influential professional bass anglers and the Outdoor Channel. For more information about the new game, with new rules and no limits, please visit: www.majorleaguefishing.com.